What are the methods of evaluation of hand disinfectants in microbiology?
Hand disinfectants must be tested periodically to ascertain their potency and efficacy. Various hand sanitizer testing manufacturers in Chennai use testing laboratories to ensure product compliance and gain a competitive edge in the market. Here, we will break down the importance of disinfectants and then learn about the various hand disinfectant methods used in microbiology.
Introduction to Hand Sanitizer Testing
Also referred to as hand rubs, hand sanitizers are gel-based formulations that eliminate pathogenic microorganisms from hands. Labs that carry out hand sanitizer testing in Chennai follow several standard methods to evaluate its efficacy and safety. Some of them are:
Raw material testing
This procedure involves testing of the ingredients to ensure product safety. This includes alcohol testing (ethanol impurities) and gas chromatography analysis (GC). Ethanol impurities can be toxic and are harmful for health. As one of the leading labs for hand sanitizer testing in Chennai, we offer various tests for ethanol (up to 98.8%), methanol content, and other impurities. In GC analysis, compounds that can be separated and vapourized without decomposition are analyzed.
Finished product testing
Testing of the finished product includes checking on the following:
- % IPA in the finished product
- % ethanol in a finished product
- Chemical characterization of packaging such as polymeric tubing, filters, etc
Definition of Disinfection
Disinfection is the process of killing germs on surfaces and objects using chemicals or disinfectants. Some of the commonly used disinfectants are bleach and alcohol solutions. Once sprayed, you must leave the disinfectants on the surface for some time to kill the germs. Disinfectant efficiency testing helps reduce the number of microorganisms on surfaces, objects, and in the air.
Factors involved in disinfectant activities and tests
Let us now learn about the main factors involved in disinfectant activities and tests:
Contact time or dwell time
As disinfecting surfaces plays a crucial role in preventing the spread of many diseases, contact time or dwell time is the most critical factor in disinfection. According to the scientists from hand sanitizer testing manufacturers in Chennai, contact time is measured by how long a disinfectant must stay on teh surface to kill the microorganism. This dwell time or contact time can vary between 15 seconds to as long as 30 minutes.
Application area
Disinfectant activities are carried out broadly in areas such as food, industry, domestic and institutional, medical and veterinary.
Application type
The hand sanitizer testing manufacturers in Chennai categorize disinfectants into two main applications. First is with mechanical action, for eg, wet wipes and the second one is without mechanical action like sprays. They are further segmented into household, institutional, food, industry, medical, and veterinary use. The area of use defines which standards are applicable.
Evaluation method of hand disinfectants used in Microbiology
Hand sanitizers and disinfectants are used to remove bacteria, yeast, and fungi and eliminate the risk of infection. Disinfectant efficiency testing evaluates their efficacy against specific pathogens and bacteria and ensures that the product meets Indian standards for safety and efficiency. A few of the evaluation methods are:
MIC/MBC
MICs (Minimum Inhibitory concentrations) and MBCs (Minimum Bactericidal concentrations) are used as research tools to evaluate the in vitro activity of a biocide. Used for both bacteria and fungi, broth dilution, agar dilution and micro broth dilution are the most common methods of MIC/MBC.
ASTM E 2315
This test evaluates the changes in a population of aerobic micro-organisms within a specified sampling time when anti-microbial test materials are present.
EN 1650
Disinfectant efficiency testing labs carry out this test for the evaluation of the fungicidal activity of chemical disinfectants and antiseptics used in food, industrial, hand hygiene, and institutional areas.
EN 14476
This standard is applied to the determination of virucidal activity of test products used in the field of medical areas like hygienic hand rub, hygienic hand wash, surgical hand rub, surgical hand wash, and instrument disinfection.
A few of the other tests are: Quantitative suspension tests for bactericidal, fungicidal and yeasticidal activity – EN 1276, EN 1650, EN 13727, EN 13624, ASTM E2783, ASTM E1054
Hygienic handwash efficacy – EN 1499, ASTM E2784, ASTM E1174, ASTM E2946
Hygienic handrub efficacy – EN 1500, ASTM E1115, ASTM E2755
Surgical hand disinfection efficacy – EN 12791, ASTM E1173
Hand sanitizers and disinfectants are an integral part of our healthcare framework. At Tamil Nadu Test House, our scientists pass the samples through rigorous testing protocols of hand sanitizer testing in Chennai. Our tests for microbial efficacy, toxicology, chemical composition, and product stability ensure that your product establishes itself as a market benchmark for quality and integrity. Contact us now.